Compare ChMeetings To Realm By ACS And See Which Is The Best Church Software For Your Needs
Do you struggle to choose between ChMeetings and Realm? This comparison should help you decide which one is the church management software that suits you best.
What Makes ChMeetings Stand Out?
Affordable Pricing
ChMeetings starts at $12/month and maxes out at $60/month or $600/year, making it budget-friendly for any church size.
Realm provides tailored pricing based on church size, but no clear starting or maximum pricing is disclosed, so overall costs may potentially be higher.
Easy To Use
ChMeetings has an intuitive, user-friendly interface, making it accessible for users with minimal tech experience.
Realm has a robust platform but may require a learning curve, especially for smaller churches or less tech-savvy users.
All-In One Mobile App
ChMeetings works on the go and gives members an easy way to participate and contribute. Our mobile app has 99% of the desktop app features.
Realm has two different apps for admins and members, and their features are limited compared to the desktop versions.
Free Support & Data Move-In
With ChMeetings you get awesome support from real people, plus easy-to-follow user guides. If you choose any paid plan we’ll move your data from anywhere, for free.
Realm only mentions that they assist with data migration, but no information is available about the costs of the service.
Free Trial
ChMeetings offers a free 14-day trial that lets you explore on your own. We provide expert-guided demos too. We also don’t ask for your credit card details when signing up for a trial.
With Realm by ACS Technologies you must request a live demo and there is no option to explore the software on your own.
ChMeetings is the No. 1 Church Management Software on Capterra in 2024
What Makes ChMeetings Stand Out?
ChMeetings offers the tech you need to grow your church.
Here’s how our platform compares to Realm:
| Feature | ChMeetings | Realm by ACS Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| All-in-One | ||
| Free Mobile App | - Split into two, for members, and pastors. | |
| Free Migration | Not specified | |
| Two-Factor Authentication | ||
| Unlimited Email | Unclear | |
| Email Integration | Built-in advanced editor Integrates with Mailchimp | Integrates with Constant Contact |
| SMS Text Messaging | - (built-in, additional cost) | - through Constant Contact |
| Voice Messaging | - (built-in, additional cost) | |
| Unlimited Mobile Push Notifications | ||
| Member Access | ||
| Member Directory | ||
| Webpage Builder | - (Member Portal Builder) | - (Websites Feature) |
| Blog | ||
| Calendars | ||
| Events | ||
| Paid Events | ||
| Volunteer Scheduling | ||
| Volunteer Signup Sheet | ||
| Check-In & Child Check-In | - includes name tag printing | - includes name tag printing |
| Service Planning | ||
| Appointments | ||
| In-Person Giving | ||
| Online Giving | ||
| Text Giving | ||
| Giving Statements | ||
| Giving Reports | ||
| Pledges | ||
| Forms | ||
| Collect Digital Signatures via Forms | ||
| Follow-Ups | ||
| Accounting | ||
| Elections | ||
| Automated Tasks | ||
| Reports | ||
| Custom Reports | ||
| Integrations & API | ||
| User Roles and Permissions | ||
| Ministries | ||
| Free Support by Real Humans | ||
| Diocese Accounts | ||
| Optional Branded App | - (additional cost $50/month or $500/year) | - (only standard app for all users) |
| Multiple Languages | - 22 Languages |
DETAILED COMPARISON
Introduction
ChMeetings and Realm by ACS Technologies are comprehensive church management software solutions designed to assist churches with organizing their communities and managing operations. Each tool offers unique features to help churches engage with their congregations, streamline administrative tasks, and improve communication. While they share many similarities, some key differences make them suitable for different types of churches depending on size, budget, and specific needs.
What is ChMeetings?
ChMeetings is a versatile church management software, designed to help any church manage their congregations, events, contributions, content, finances, and more. It provides features that are highly accessible and easy to use, with tools that contribute to more streamlined church work. ChMeetings is tailored for churches of all sizes, offering flexible pricing plans and a branded mobile app for larger or better-connected congregations. The platform is built to streamline operations and connect church staff and congregants, providing a user-friendly experience focused on efficient church administration and hassle-free growth.
ChMeetings might be for you if:
- Your church is seeking a simple, affordable ChMS.
- Your church prioritizes mobile accessibility and multi-channel communication.
- You want an intuitive platform that’s easy for most people to use.
- You require customizable forms that can also collect digital signatures.
- You’d like the option to offer a branded church app for members.
- You represent a large church or Diocese that requires specific features.
What is Realm by ACS Technologies?
Realm is a church management platform developed by ACS Technologies that serves medium to large congregations by providing a robust suite of features for managing member data, events, donations, communications, finances, and more. Realm integrates deeply with other ACS products, providing an interconnected system for larger churches with complex needs. With its emphasis on data-driven insights and integration, Realm enables churches to engage members effectively, streamline workflows, and leverage analytics for growth.
Realm might be for you if:
- You’re a mid to large church with specific needs for integration across multiple ACS Technologies products.
- You require detailed financial reporting.
- Your church has a dedicated administrative team and can afford a higher budget.
- You need advanced analytics and extensive event management tools.
- You’re looking for deep data insights.
Pros And Cons
To save you time, here’s a short breakdown of the pros and cons associated to each platform:
ChMeetings
Pros
- User-friendly interface that works for churches of all sizes and denominations
- Flexible, built-in communication tools (email, SMS, push notifications)
- Branded church app option for direct congregational engagement (extra cost)
- Cost-effective plans with a transparent pricing structure
- The free plan includes essential tools for smaller congregations
Cons
- Limited integration options compared to larger platforms
- Analytics are predefined and less advanced.
Realm
Pros
- Comprehensive data tracking and analytics
- Strong financial and contributions management features
- Integration with other ACS products
- Well-suited for large churches with more complex needs
Cons
- Potentially higher cost, especially for smaller churches
- Steeper learning curve for new users
- No free plan; limited transparency in pricing
- Though geared towards larger congregations, there is no Diocese Plan nor any features dedicated to Elections.
Ease of Use Comparison
ChMeetings
ChMeetings is designed with ease of use as a primary focus. The platform’s intuitive interface lets users quickly learn and navigate the software, with minimal setup requirements. ChMeetings offers streamlined features like group management, events, and communication, making it easy for smaller churches to access the tools they need without technical expertise. With a visually accessible dashboard and easy-to-navigate menus, ChMeetings is well-suited for volunteer-led churches or smaller teams, as well as being a breath of fresh air for people used to complex tools.
Realm
Realm’s interface is more complex. It requires more time to onboard users but provides a streamlined experience for churches familiar with ACS products. While Realm has a professional look and feel, it may pose a learning curve for smaller churches or users unfamiliar with church management software. Despite this, its integration with other ACS tools and the mobile app for church members make it effective for large teams looking for interconnected solutions.
Cost Comparison: Which Solution Offers More Value for Money?
Free Plan Overview
ChMeetings offers a free plan, providing essential membership management for 50 people, event organization, donation collection, and tracking, a mobile app for admins and members, and more. This plan is ideal for small churches just starting with church management software.
Realm does not offer a free plan.
Pricing Models
ChMeetings offers 5 paid plans that are mainly based on the number of people churches manage. Excepting the Very Small Plan (which does not offer Volunteer Scheduling, Appointments, Service Planning, and Accounting) and the Unlimited Plan (which includes everything plus Elections), all other plans include the full set of features that ChMeetings has available. This pricing structure ensures that everyone gets a lot of value for the plan they choose.
Realm uses a subscription model with prices apparently determined by church size and required features, but details are not public.
Cost Breakdown
- ChMeetings: Low-cost plans with predictable monthly or annual fees, starting from a free plan and moving up to options with added features for larger churches.
- Realm: Higher cost due to customizable options and premium features, suited for churches with a larger budget and complex needs.
Price and Feature Transparency
ChMeetings publishes all prices and fees on its website. Check out our live pricing page to see exactly which features you get with each plan. We have a detailed plan comparison table available as well.
ACS Technologies does not publish prices for Realm, but according to different sources around the web, their pricing starts at around $31. It’s not clear what features users get for this price though and the Realm website does not quite explain feature allocation either. If you want to find out how much you’d pay for Realm, and what features you get, you must contact ACS Technologies.
Feature Comparison: Where Can You Get the Most Features For Church Management?
Features Offered By Both ChMeetings and Realm
- Membership Management: Track and manage member details, groups, and family relationships.
- Mobile App: Both offer mobile access for members and admins.
- Event Management: Schedule and manage church events, and monitor attendance.
- Volunteer Scheduling and Service Planning: You can schedule volunteers and plan services using any of the two platforms.
- Communication: Send messages through email and SMS, with options for notifications.
- Contributions and Pledges: Collect and track donations, online and in person, generate statements, and create pledge campaigns..
- Essential Financial & Accounting Tools: Both platforms provide the essentials in terms of financial reporting and accounting.
- Essential Reporting: Generate reports for different aspects of church operations such as people, households, event attendance, contributions, and more.
ChMeetings Exclusive Features
- Transparent Pricing Structure: Offers clear pricing with predictable costs, ideal for budget-conscious churches.
- Built-in SMS: ChMeetings has built-in SMS (paid extra), while Realm requires integration with Constant Contact for you to be able to send SMS messages.
- Mobile Notifications: You can send mobile notifications to all logged-in mobile app users.
- Built-in Advanced Emai: Create visually appealing emails with a built-in advanced email editor that’s still easy to use through drag and drop.
- Volunteer Signup Sheet: Let people assign themselves to suitable roles and to the dates when they’re available to volunteer.
- Appointments: Members and servants can schedule appointments with each other.
- Custom Forms And Digital Signatures: Allows the creation of customizable forms for data collection tailored to church needs, including the collection of digital signatures.
- Blog: You can publish a fully-fledged church blog, with rich posts that people can read, like and comment to.
- Elections: Manage the entire election process within a large church or diocese, from candidacy to voting and results. The feature is available with the Unlimited plan or a Diocese account.
- Branded App: Provides churches with a custom-branded app option for congregational engagement. This app is an addon to any ChMeetings paid plan and costs $45/month or $450/year on top of the plan price. Learn more about the Branded App.
Realm Exclusive Features
- ACS Integrations: Deep integration with other ACS Technologies tools, allowing for comprehensive data sharing and extended functionality.
- In-app Inbox: There is an in-app inbox where members can see their messaging in-app, regardless of whether they were received as emails or as texts.
- In-app Chat With Members And Groups: People can chat together, in private or as groups.
- Text Giving: Members can give to your church via text.
- Background Check: You can run background checks for church staff using a Verified First integration.
- Financial & Accounting Tools: Realm provides more advanced financial reporting and accounting features suited for larger churches.
- Analytics & Insights: Realm has more in-depth analytics for attendance, giving trends, and engagement, ideal for strategic planning.
- Websites: Realm lets you build a church website and integrate some in-app features to it.
Key Differences
- The ChMeetings Member Portal Builder: ChMeetings does not advertise this as a website builder, but it lets you achieve relatively the same as a website. You can use a drag and drop builder to add different content types and integrate a wide variety of app features such as events, giving, forms, and more.
- Integrations: Both platforms let you integrate with third-party apps, though it depends on what you need integrated, as the available apps are different for each.
- Accounting: this is available with any of the two solutions, but Realm provides more advanced features.
- Mobile Apps: Both ChMeetings and Realm provide mobile apps, but the ChMeetings Mobile App is all-in-one and fully-featured, and even contains mobile-specific optimizations. Real splits their mobile access in two apps: one for members and one for pastors and the list of available features does not span across everything available within the web app.
- Migration: If you want to switch from a previous system to either ChMeetings or Realm, it’s good to know that ChMeetings provides free data migration with any paid plan. Realm only specifies that they provide assistance but don’t mention whether it’s free or paid.
Conclusions
ChMeetings and Realm by ACS Technologies are both valuable tools for church management, but they cater to different needs.
ChMeetings is an ideal choice for churches of any size, seeking an affordable, easy-to-use platform with straightforward features that offer an all-in-one experience. ChMeetings works just as well for small churches on a budget and for large congregations that require a robust solution for management and growth.
Realm, on the other hand, is best suited for larger churches with complex needs, especially those already integrated into the ACS Technologies ecosystem. Realm provides a comprehensive and scalable solution but comes with a steeper learning curve and does not offer a clear image of the app benefits, since no pricing is published on the official website.
Ultimately, ChMeetings provides accessibility, simplicity and flexibility, while Realm offers depth in areas like analytics or finance, making each platform the right choice depending on church size, budget, and administrative needs.
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